Rockies calling up Tyler Chatwood from Double-A Tulsa to start Sunday

With Christian Friedrich going on the disabled list and likely out for the season because of a stress fracture in his lower back, the Rockies needed someone to start Sunday afternoon’s game against the Giants.

That someone is Tyler Chatwood, the 22-year-old right-hander acquired from the Angels in a trade for catcher Chris Iannetta last November. Chatwood was scheduled to start for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers Saturday, but he was scratched so he could rejoin the Rockies.

Chatwood didn’t fare well in his earlier stint with the big-league club. Pitching in relief, Chatwood was 1-1 with a 7.62 ERA in seven appearances. He put up solid numbers for Tulsa, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts.

Chatwood has always consider himself a starter — he was 6-11 with a 4.75 ERA with the Angels in 2011 in 27 games (25 starts) — and now he gets a chance to prove himself to the Rockies’ brass.

So is Project 5183 officially over? With Chatwood coming up that would leave starters Francis, Sanchez, White, and Pomeranz in the rotation. I am thrilled if that is the case, well not thrilled because 80% of our best rotation is on the DL, but happier than before.

Tyler Chatwood was doing his best work of the season at Double-A Tulsa, which is why the Rockies should have left him there to continue. Promoting him, out of desperation and “need” is going to bring, sorry, predictable results. Just check Chatwood’s earlier MLB work and his numbers at Triple-A as well. Not..pretty.

Chatwood is a pitcher who has to have a great offseason and come to spring training much improved. There is talent there but it’s not yet sculpted sufficiently nor MLB ready.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.